OpTree

USANA has just unveiled their Million Dollar Club Walk of Fame, which recognizes distributors who have earned over a million in commission through their USANA businesses.

The new Walk of Fame will be located at the entrance of the USANA headquarters located in Salt Lake City.

USANA honored and recognized almost 100 independent distributors who have made it to the Hall of fame. USANA founder Myron Wentz, along with CEO Dave Wentz, recently recognized the distributors in a special ceremony where each was presented with an engraved granite star.

“Our Million Dollar Club members are truly the stars of USANA, so we wanted to give them the star treatment,” USANA CEO Dave Wentz explained. “Through hard work, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit, these Associates have shown that great things can be achieved through a USANA home-based business.”

As new distributors make it to that amazing $1 million dollar mark, their names too will be added to the walk of fame. The Million Dollar Club Event was held in conjunction with the 16th Annual USANA International Convention which is being held this weekend in Salt Lake.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Shaklee announced that they have reached a settlement with Masimo Corporation regarding pending litigation in a patent infringement case.

The suit, filed in 2007 was filed by Shaklee and NIR Diagnostics who claimed that Masimo’s pulse oximeter infringed on patented products licensed by NIR to the Shaklee Corporation.

The settlement was reached without Masimo incurring any liability to either Shaklee or NIR.
Masimo Corporation develops products that help monitor vital signs through non-invasive methods.

The suit was filed in July of 2007, shortly before Masimo’s IPO. Shaklee initially filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in California. NIR Diagnostics later joined Shaklee in the suit against Masimo. The plaintiffs claimed that Masimo pulse oximeter, which measure oxygen in the blood through finger monitors, incorporated patents that were licensed to Shaklee by NIR.

Though all details of the suit were not released, Masimo managed to settle the suit without having to pay any damages to either Shaklee or NIR.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Since we posted the news earlier in the week about Melaleuca’s announcement of their new product line called “Vitality” which contains Oligofructose Complex - there has been a lot of buzz. So what exactly is Oligofructose?

Oligofructose is carbohydrate polymer derived from fructose polymers commonly found in plants and vegetables including onions, bananas, garlic and chicory). The key component of Oligofructose is that it is designed for anyone who wants to consume traditionally sweet foods and drinks, without consuming excess calories or triggering a large rise in blood sugar and insulin levels. It is therefore a healthy way of sweetening food and drinks. Oligofructose may be useful for people on calories controlled diets, low carbohydrate diets and for general weight control. Clinically, the substance may benefit obese patients and is widely used with diabetics.

As it relates to Melaleuca’s new Vitality line, one of the things we expect is that Oligofructose can help support a persons weight loss goals as part of a calorie controlled diet and exercise program. The substance allows you to consume sweet foods and beverages without the negative blood sugar and insulin responses normally associated with such food and drinks. There is also some suggestion that Oligofructose may independently improve insulin and blood sugar control, thereby improving metabolic profiles – a factor which may be of particular help in weight management. It will also help your digestive system resulting in less bloating, wind or stomach upsets.

The use of oligofructose can help support a persons weight loss goals as part of a calorie controlled diet and exercise program. The substance allows you to consume sweet foods and beverages without the negative blood sugar and insulin responses normally associated with such food and drinks. There is also some suggestion that oligofructose may independently improve insulin and blood sugar control, thereby improving metabolic profiles – a factor which may be of particular help in weight management. It will also help your digestive system resulting in less bloating, gas or stomach upsets.

Melaleuca’s use of Oligofructose in Vitality and the way the company has developed a method to formulate the complex for any age is significant.

Popularity: 4% [?]

There’s a new company in the superfruit, nutritional drink market, and its looking to give the acai and the mangosteen a run for its money.

The superfruit drink business has become a booming business around the world over the last ten years with sales well over a billion dollars. Orenda is the new kid on the block and the first company in the U.S. to make use of the Aronia berry (which has 3x more antioxidant power than the blueberry) by developing a beverage, The Oki Aronia Berry Blend, that capitalizes on its nutritional benefits. Recent research has shown that the Aronia berry contains properties far superior to its competition.

Studies have shown that each tiny berry contains a wealth of antioxidants and can benefit the heart, liver, digestive system and aid in muscle recovery after workouts.

The small dark berry, nicknamed the “chokeberry” because of it is so tiny and can easily be choked on in its raw form, grows wild across the US and Canada. The berry has a bitter flavor comes that from the proanthocyanidins which is also the source of its antioxidants. The Aronia also has an intense concentration of anthocyanins, a natural compound that not only gives the fruit its dark color, but also many of its health benefits.

While the aronia has been popular for some years in Europe, it has only recently begun gaining attention in the US. Orenda, founded in 2002 by brothers, Bob and George Hall is looking to take over the nutritional beverage market and become the next big thing in superfruit beverages.

Popularity: 2% [?]